Tuesday, June 27, 2017

While polls offer only limited insight into how much gold Americans own, history could give us a better clue.

The statistics of gold ownership in the U.S. are difficult to track. It's known that the nation occupies high spots on the lists of top gold consumers and biggest gold hoarders, but past that point, data is relatively muddled.

Polls show that Americans continue to rank gold highly as an investment, with the metal landing third on a recent list of the best-perceived long-term investments. This data, however, offers only limited insight into how much bullion Americans are buying. Even the U.S. Mint's statistics, which show $1.2 billion worth of gold coins being sold in 2015, does little to inform us about individual purchases.

Writing in the LA Times, James Ledbetter believes that a look at history might give us a better clue of where gold sits with American investors. Despite being illegal to own between 1933 and 1975, gold remained a very popular investment in the country.

When gold was first confiscated in the 1930s, the hoard of privately-owned gold was estimated to be at $1.4 billion, a massive amount that was twice the size of the Bank of England's reserves. After the government tried to buy up all the remaining gold, the Treasury estimated that $287 million in gold coins still sat with people.

Clearly, Americans didn't want to give up on owning gold despite the administration's threats. As the government couldn't reconcile the high amount of remaining gold coins with their new illegal status, the figure was simply expunged from the books and the gold is thought to have been smuggled out of the country or kept in private collections.

Ledbetter notes that gold retains its secrecy even half a century after a floating currency was established in the U.S., and long after one could argue for the economic and security reasons of being vague about gold hoards.

The secrecy surrounding gold has also given rise to conspiracies involving a lack of physical gold, such as the notion that the Federal Reserve has little to no gold bullion. Yet despite the restrictions in producing accurate estimates, it's safe to assume that 1% to 3% of Americans own gold, although Ledbetter and others believe that the number could be as high as 10%.

These statistics would mean that anywhere between 2.5 million and 25 million of America's citizens own gold. Regardless of the size of individual gold hoards, these numbers underline the importance of gold investment in the country while a closer look could redefine what we know about Western appetite for the metal.

Monday, June 19, 2017

The evolution of the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf is here

Perfection can be hard to top, and there are very few bullion coins as flawless as the ever-popular Canadian Silver Maple Leaf. Ever since the first Maple Leaf was minted three decades ago, the coin has stood as a paragon of value in a tumultuous world that has seen economic markets around the world rise and fall numerous times.

Demand for the 1 oz Maple Leaf has been elevated by its near-absolute purity, with a silver content of 99.99%. This has helped to establish it as a preferred coin among many people who purchase precious metals.

With tens of millions of the valuable coin in circulation, many have wondered when the Royal Canadian Mint will look to create another coin equally impressive, if not more so. That time has finally come, as we are proud to announce that Birch Gold Group will be the exclusive distributor of the Canadian Silver Twin Maples.

In some ways, the new coin is reminiscent of its predecessor: The memorable portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Susanna Blunt, remains on the coin's obverse. In addition, the coin's high purity once again acts as a guarantee of its inclusion in portfolios big and small, as well as in Precious Metals IRAs.

The coin's reverse has seen some changes, as the new image of the maple leaf was created by Celia Godkin in a tactful endeavor to reinvigorate a classic design. The Silver Twin Maple's leaf is the sugar maple, a Canadian native which has long served as a symbol of the country's prosperity.

Perhaps the most notable change from the Silver Canadian Maple Leaf (also sold by Birch Gold Group) is that the Silver Twin Maples will contain a full two ounces of silver, twice as much as its predecessor. Further, to show that they are truly keeping up with the times, the Royal Canadian Mint will imbue the coin's sparkling surface with two high-tech security measures in the form of precise radial lines and a micro engraved laser maple leaf – these will ensure that the coin is as unmistakable under a microscope as it is to the naked eye.

Shapiro and Birch Gold Group working to educate Americans on value of purchasing gold

In today's world, it can be difficult to get an opinion from someone you know will speak from their heart. Getting an expert opinion on how to safeguard your hard-earned savings can prove even more difficult, especially in the current landscape of aggressive profit-seeking.

Birch Gold Group's collaboration with Ben Shapiro, Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Wire and New York Timesbestselling author, is a move towards clearing the clutter of incorrect and often damaging information about financial related matters, and bringing the cold, hard facts about money to the American people.

Since his early work, Shapiro has shown a fondness for precious metals, and the candid author and host of the Ben Shapiro Show continues to remind people why they can't afford to overlook gold and silver. His endorsement of Birch Gold as his precious metals firm of choice since August 2016 shows another level of dedication to helping Americans protect their savings.

Paper cash holdings have never been more vulnerable, especially when held in a virtual setting such as a bank account. The constant erosion of the dollar's purchasing power, coupled with the increase in cyber attacks, means that your holdings in "paper" or digital form are less secure than if they are resting in the form of a tried-and-true physical asset, whose intrinsic value is never put into question.

Time and time again, gold and silver have shown that they fit the bill perfectly, as they can help Americans avoid the volatility of equities, while still having growth potential. This is one of the primary reasons why Ben Shapiro advocates diversifying into precious metals with Birch Gold Group.

If you're an investor looking to diversify your portfolio, purchasing physical gold and silver is one decision that should make a lot of sense. Or, if you're simply looking to protect and preserve your savings, such as in an IRA or eligible 401(k), moving into an IRA backed by physical gold and silver is something that Ben Shapiro advocates for as well. And in a world where your savings are often under threat, Birch Gold Group can help you achieve this.